Kitittas Valley Washington

Peffers, Moses – Obituary

Moses Peffers, a pioneer of the Kittitas Valley since 1882, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Oscar McEwen, 801 East First Street, Sunday evening [April 13, 1930] at the age of 79. He came to this valley in 1882 and resided on his ranch in the Fairview District until the time of his illness, one and one-half years ago, when he came to the city to live with his daughter. He is survived by five sons, John, Elmer, William, Burton, and Albert and one daughter, Mrs. Oscar McEwen, all residents of this city. Another daughter, Mrs. Henry … Read more

Dewees, George W. – Obituary

George W. Dewees, Valley Pioneer, taken by death widely known Ellensburg resident dies here today George William DeWees, 78, an Ellensburg resident for the past 56 years, died at the Ellensburg General Hospital this morning. In failing health for several years, he suffered a stroke Wednesday [October 6, 1945] morning and failed to rally The son of the late William and Valinda DeWees, he was born April 14, 1867, near Leitchfield, KY. When he was six years old his parents moved to the Middle West, where he spent his boyhood. He came to Ellensburg February 28, 1889, and went to … Read more

Olmstead, Phil – Obituary

Phil Olmstead Valley Pioneer Called–Resident of Valley for 61 Years Passed Wednesday From Heart Attack–Had Distinguished Ancestors Philip S. Olmstead, 73-year-old resident of the Kittitas Valley for nearly 62 years, died suddenly at his farm home Wednesday morning [March 23, 1938] from a heart attack. Death came to him without warning about 9:30, shortly after he had conferred with D. W. Brunson, local auctioneer, about a sale which he was contemplating next week, after which he planned to retire from active farming. Mr. Olmstead was born in Ottawa, Illinois, the 14th day of February in 1865. He came to the … Read more

Davis, Maria Harris – Obituary

Funeral Of Pioneer To Be Held Tomorrow. Mrs. Maria Davis Was In Valley In 1869 Crossed Plains On Horseback At Age Of Six Years-First Settler On Lake Washington The death of Mrs. Maria Davis, 77 years old, one of the earliest pioneers of Washington, who passed through the Kittitas Valley on her way to Lake Washington in 1869 and met at the summit of Snoqualmie Pass, Tillman Houser and Gus Nesalhouse, first settlers here, resulted from a short illness from pneumonia, according to information received here today Mrs. Davis and her husband, John Davis, lived in Yakima in 1867 to … Read more

Harrel, Julia Ann Derrick – Obituary

Funeral services for Julia Ann Harrel, 90, who died yesterday [June 15, 1966] in the Kittitas Valley Community Hospital, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Evenson’s Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Paul Nance officiating. Burial will be the IOOF Cemetery. Mrs. Harrel, a pioneer resident, was born Feb. 10, 1876, at Rogersville, Tenn., and was married to Edward Harrel Feb. 11, 1896 in Tennessee. They came to the Kittitas Valley from Rogersville in May 1902, and worked for William Packwood for three years. They then operated a farm for Clarence Palmer before buying a ranch in the Fairview District … Read more

Taylor, Mary Grewell – Obituary

Mrs. Wm. Taylor, early pioneer of Kittatas, passes. One of the oldest living settlers here, dies Sunday first teacher. Crossed Plains Oxteam, fought Indians, was still active . Mrs. William Taylor, 75, joined the band of Kittitas county’s vanishing pioneers in mid-afternoon Sunday [October 1, 1933], succumbing to a month’s illness. Mrs. Taylor, despite her advanced age was in rugged health and quite active until she became ill the first of last month. Her passing takes from the ranks of the valley pioneers another of the earliest settlers. Mary Grewell was a true product of the West, crossing the plains … Read more

Wright, Bertha Rose Georgia – Obituary

Mrs. Bertha Wright, wife of A. M. Wright, died at her home on the north side early last Monday morning [September 30, 1901] of typhoid fever. She had been sick for a couple of weeks but as her friends had all long hoped for her early recovery, her death came as a great shock. The high esteem in which Mrs. Wright was held was evidenced by the many sincere expressions of sympathy and the presence of so many at the services on Tuesday afternoon at the home. Besides the grief-stricken husband, she leaves six children, who are thus deprived of … Read more

Michels, Anna Olding – Obituary

Anna Michels, 69-year-old native daughter of the Kittitas Valley died at her home today [August 25, 1949] following an illness of several months. She was born in Ellensburg on May 23, 1880. She was married to Henry J. Michels on May 22, 1900. He preceded her in death on October 12, 1943. She was a member of the Kittitas County Fair Board for several years. Surviving are a son, Roy, of Ellensburg, and four sisters, Mrs. Eva Shaw of Ellensburg, Mrs. Lida McGuire, and Mrs. Nettie Galvin, both of Kirkland, and Mrs. J. A. Tesack of Seattle. Funeral services will … Read more

Montgomery, George – Obituary

George Montgomery, valley pioneer, passed away yesterday [April 29, 1934] at his home, 712 East 8th Street following a short illness. He was born in Jackson County, Oregon, Sept. 29, 1860, and came to the Kittitas Valley at the age of 21 from Salina, Calif. He was married to Deliah Davis, Feb. 14, 1890. Mr. Montgomery worked as early pioneers did and driving freight in from The Dalles, Oregon, and suffered many hardships. He has been gardener at the Normal School for 14 years where he was affectionately known as “dad.” He leaves a widow and two sons, Carl of … Read more

Montgomery, Sadie “Sasie” Folsom Sutherland – Obituary

The death of Mrs. Sasie F. Montgomery occurred this morning [December 1, 1922] at 5 o’clock at the family residence in the Broadview District, following an illness of a year. Mrs. Montgomery was born in Kerona, Illinois, May 21, 1858, coming to Kittitas County in 1888, where she has since made her home. She was married to James Montgomery in 1891. For several years in the pioneer days of Ellensburg, Mrs. Montgomery was employed as a teacher in the city schools, and later served on the county examining board. She has always been very much interested in school work, and … Read more

Dewees, Almira Jane Swett – Obituary

Mrs. George DeWees, resident of Ellensburg and a native daughter of the Pacific Coast, died at the family residence, 306 South Sprague Street this morning [February 7, 1940], after an illness that has lasted nearly four years. No arrangements have been made for the funeral, pending the arrival of members of the family Mrs. Almira Swett DeWees was born in Clackamas County, Oregon and came to the Kittitas Valley as a girl in 1885, and was married here to George DeWees, pioneer milling and grain and feed man, who also served for several years on the city council and was … Read more

Dewees, Rebecca Ellen Freels – Obituary

Death came to Mrs. Rebecca Ellen DeWees, 71, at her home at 210 South Sampson Street this morning [February 14, 1940] after a two weeks’ illness. Her death follows that of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. George DeWees by just one week Mrs. DeWees was born in Havensville, Kentucky, March 17, 1858, and came to the Kittitas Valley in 1902. She has lived in her present home for 17 years. She was a member of the Miriam Rebekah Lodge here Mrs. DeWees is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Robert Kirk of Coldwater, Kansas, Mrs. Emma Sherman of Wichita, Mrs. Ina Davis and … Read more

Bailes, Amos W. – Obituary

Amos W. Bailes, 58, died yesterday [May 25, 1932] afternoon at his home in the Fairview District following an illness of two weeks. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the Honeycutt Chapel with Rev. Harry Bell in charge of the services. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery. Mr. Bailes was born August 7, 1874 in Oregon. He is survived by a widow, Helen and six children, Glen, Lydia, Virgil, Loren, Nora and Dorothy; a brother Archie McDonald and a sister, Mrs. A. H. Berry, all of Ellensburg. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Wheeler, Maria Fry – Obituary

Mrs. Maria wheeler, pioneer of the ’70s, is called by death. Was mother of 11 children, and leaves 28 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. Crossed plains in 1850. Funeral to be held tomorrow from baptist church-well known among pioneers. Mrs. Maria (Grandma) Wheeler, aged 84, one of the earliest pioneers of the state, and a resident of Kittitas Valley since 1871, passed away last evening [May 27, 1917] at the home of her son, A. L. Wheeler of Kittitas. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Baptist Church, Rev. Mr. Cline reading the service. Interment … Read more

Sorenson, Nielsine ‘Sine’ Pedersen – Obituary

Mrs. Soren Sorenson, 77, a Kittitas Valley pioneer, died Tuesday [September 3, 1940] at the Ellensburg General Hospital following a two week’s illness. Born Nielsine Pedersen in Holme, Denmark, Sept. 10, 1862, she came to America at the age of 27, living in the state of Ohio for a short time before coming to the Kittitas Valley in 1889 with her brother, Peder Pedersen. On Oct. 29, 1890, she was married to Soren Sorenson, a prominent valley farmer. The first year of their marriage, they lived on the John Denton place in the Broadview District. Then they moved to their … Read more

Morrison, Ica Ladd – Obituary

Mrs. A. D. Morrison of Kittitas, died at her home in that town, Tuesday [June 3, 1913] of tuberculosis after an illness of 5 months. She came to this county three years ago and secured employment in Crockett Company’s store and last September was married to Mr. Morrison. Her maiden name was Ladd. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

McKenzie, Charles Maxfield – Obituary

Former Yakima Valley resident Charles “Max” McKenzie, 84, of Edmonds, died Sunday in Edmonds [August 17, 1986]. Mr. McKenzie was born Dec. 8, 1901, in Omaha, Neb., to Charles and Maude McKenzie. They moved in 1903 to Quincy, where his family homesteaded until the death of his father in 1915. In 1917, they moved to the Kittitas Valley and took up farming. Mr. McKenzie went to work for the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1923, retiring in 1967. He was married in 1926 to Ruth Barnhart. They were transferred to Yakima in 1932. While working for the railroad, he maintained a … Read more

Sorenson, E. Peter – Obituary

E. Peter Sorenson, 65, pioneer Denmark District farmer, died suddenly Tuesday evening [October 12, 1937] of a heart attack. Mr. Sorenson was born near Aarhus, Denmark, on April 7, 1872, and came to Minnesota in 1888 where he joined his brother, the late Soren Sorenson. They came together to the Kittitas Valley in the fall of that year. Active in enterprises connected with the development of the valley, he worked and farmed near Ellensburg until 1892, when he obtained land in the Denmark District where he has resided ever since. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ann Sorenson, a … Read more

Rader, Hilda G. Brunn – Obituary

Former Ellensburg area resident Hilda G. Rader, 90, died Monday [January 16, 1984] following a short illness in Modesto, Calif. She had been living in California with her son and daughter-in-law since 1980 She was born in Freeport, Ill., on Jan. 3, 1894, one of eight children of Christian and Marie Brunn. Her father emigrated from Sweden in the early 1880’s and her mother, Marie Horz [Hertz], was a native of Germany. The Brunn family moved to the Kittitas Valley shortly after the turn of the century Mrs. Rader was graduated from Ellensburg Normal School and taught in public schools … Read more

Schnebly, Philip Henry – Obituary

The Kittitas Valley lost another of its well known pioneers Sunday [October 17, 1926] when Philip Henry Schnebly passed away after an illness that extended over a period of more than three years. Death came at 7 o’clock Sunday, morning but was not unexpected, as Mr. Schnebly had suffered an acute sinking spell Friday. Coming here from Oregon, his birthplace, in 1872, Mr. Schnebly became one of the most important growers of beef cattle in the state, both stock and acreage mounting into the thousands. For a number of years, however, his livestock interests have been handled by his six … Read more